Prospectus Hit List for May 31

Hit List for May 30
Hit List for June 3Hit List updates are published Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, starting April 2, 2014. Data presented here is based on games through the day prior to publication.Teams are ordered based on Adjusted Hit List Factor, a computer generated number, and the author isn't responsible for the order of the teams.

30

23

29.0

29.1

29.3

.538

.518

45.2%

9.3%

54.4%

-5.8%

5.5%

30

23

28.2

26.3

26.4

.545

.564

38.3%

28.4%

66.8%

-5.0%

-13.2%

Mariano Rivera has a 2.21 career ERA, which is really something, but what's really really something is that he's had an ERA as high as 2.21 just once in the past 11 seasons.

10

30

24

29.1

29.5

29.2

.508

.528

6.5%

13.1%

19.6%

1.5%

6.1%

Manny Machado has a ridiculous 25 doubles already. You know who never had 25 doubles in a season? Good, email me, so I can use that as a cool fun fact.

11

29

24

29.3

29.1

29.3

.523

.543

18.8%

22.5%

41.3%

4.0%

-13.4%

Their hitters know how to work it, they rank fifth in the circuit, goin' Cleveland walks, Cleveland walks/they can take ball four so they're wearing out the floor goin' Cleveland walks, Cleveland walks!

12

31

24

30.2

30.5

29.7

.534

.554

17.9%

31.3%

49.2%

-5.7%

16.3%

The A's have drawn 231 walks this year. Both Chicago teams have combined to draw 245 walks this year.

13

29

24

28.5

29.7

30.1

.541

.561

17.7%

25.9%

43.6%

0.2%

5.2%

The AL East is 20 games over .500.

14

29

25

26.8

27.4

28.5

.513

.493

26.0%

9.4%

35.4%

7.2%

-6.9%

Barry Zito's K:BB ratio as a Giant is 1.6. His K:BB ratio in his final four seasons as an Athletic: 1.7.

15

28

26

29.8

31.3

30.5

.507

.487

10.2%

4.0%

14.2%

-1.2%

-11.1%

Boy, it'll be awkward when teams start giving Todd Helton presents during his farewell tour around the league this summer. "But I haven't announced anyth...," he'll say, and they'll gently put a finger to his lips.

16

24

27

22.1

22.7

22.0

.459

.479

1.8%

3.6%

5.4%

-2.6%

-2.0%

Yeah, I saw the National Spelling Bee. Big whoop. Let's see 'em spell Deunte Heath on the first try.

17

27

27

24.3

23.9

24.1

.496

.476

20.9%

13.9%

34.8%

-5.0%

-7.2%

After Strasburg pitches tonight, the Nationals will make the controversial decision to shut him down, for at least four days. These doctors never want us to have any fun.

18

26

28

21.6

22.2

22.0

.451

.431

4.5%

3.9%

8.4%

-1.3%

-1.3%

As bad as he's been, Ryan Howard will be lucky to get more than five or six undeserved first-place MVP votes this year.

19

23

28

23.1

21.6

22.9

.427

.446

0.3%

0.5%

0.8%

0.3%

0.4%

The Twins are like your weird friend who still won't get a cell phone. "Strikeouts? Psh, that's just so the government can track you."

20

25

29

26.2

27.4

26.5

.520

.540

6.0%

16.4%

22.5%

1.7%

3.3%

Josh Hamilton (back) (not back back) (this is confusing, but he's not back, I mean to say that he's hurt (back(not back, but his back))) didn't play.

21

24

29

23.6

23.6

23.8

.459

.440

2.3%

1.3%

3.6%

-0.7%

-0.4%

The only player taken by the Padres in the first round who is currently on a 25-man roster is the Rays reliever Cesar Ramos. [Morning edit: Also Tim Stauffer!]

22

22

29

22.0

22.0

21.8

.458

.438

2.6%

1.5%

4.1%

0.6%

1.5%

No two Mets combined have struck out as many batters as Matt Harvey.

23

22

29

24.9

21.1

21.3

.456

.476

1.2%

2.1%

3.2%

0.9%

-5.5%

When it comes to disappointing young Royals, you just have to ignore the low OPS and just be thankful they aren't dressing up like Nazis for costume parties.

24

22

30

26.7

28.6

28.6

.496

.476

0.1%

2.1%

2.2%

0.4%

0.0%

That Kevin Gregg entered Thursday without allowing an earned run this season isn't the least bit surprising. Surprised? Oh, no, not me. Oh, wait, you mean he's still active? Well that changes everything.

25

22

30

21.7

24.6

24.4

.510

.490

16.3%

5.7%

22.0%

-1.2%

-2.5%

Scott Van Slyke hitting cleanup for the richest team in history.

26

23

31

23.0

22.0

23.4

.461

.481

0.6%

1.7%

2.3%

-1.2%

-2.3%

The Blue Jays have been intentionally walked as often as Conor Gillaspie.

Re: Manny Machado...it appears, after a non-exhaustive search, that Norm Cash is the best hitter never to get at least 25 doubles in any season, maxing out at 23 in 1965. More details in the e-mail I sent to you, Sam.